The super technical Schlitz Park Criterium, Day 6 of the Tour of America’s Dairyland presented by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, brought forth some new faces on the podium, interesting figurative and literal twists along the course, and an exchanging of Overall jerseys.

Pro Women started their race with Daniel Holloway (Athlete Octane) announcing from stage that the Men’s Athlete Octane team would have cash and beer primes awarded to them atop the hill past turn one. “Listen for the bullhorn!” What Holloway failed to mention is that Athlete Octane teammate Andrew Dahlheim would be wandering in a Speedo collecting money in a bucket from spectators. Some 60 minutes and countless laughs later, north of $600 was awarded to the Pro Women, much of which was earned by the uphill climbs of Diana Penuela (Specialized Colombia).

Lindsay Fox (Cloud Racing-Ride 2 Recovery) launched an impressive solo flyer early on, building a gap as much as 30 seconds. The Schlitz Park course is a monster with a steep incline out of turn one, multiple twists and a downhill chicane, and a super fast home stretch sprint. Yet Fox displayed her command of the course. Midway through, the gap started to close, with Pepper Palace leading the charge. The gap down to 11 seconds with 10 laps remaining as Laura Jorgensen (Mellow Mushroom) and Tracey Cameron (Fearless Femme-Pure Energy) picked up $100 and $200 primes, respectively.

A break of three formed with five laps to go – Joanne Kiesanowski (TIBCO-To the Top), Jessica Prinner (Colavita-Fine Cooking) and Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom). Fast speed up front combined with chess move mastery saw Kiesanowski take the exciting win with Prinner and Van Gilder rounding out the podium. Sam Schneider (TIBCO) stays in the Pink Boston Store-Younkers Overall Leader Jersey, as Erica Allar (Colavita) shaved the margin even closer, narrowing it down to just one point. Tina Pic (Fearless Femme) sits just 11 points back in the Overall. Team TIBCO stands strong atop the Smart Choice MRI Pro Women Team Omnium Standings. Skylar Schneider, pulled from the race near its end, fell back in points, putting Laura Jorgensen (Mellow Mushroom) in the Oarsman Capital Cat 2 Overall Leader Jersey. In the truest form of sportsmanship, Skylar presented Jorgensen with the Green jersey on the podium.

Making it to the line were 114 Pro Men, however far fewer saw the finish line as the gruel left a path of destruction. Even Justin Williams (Astellas), last night’s winner in Beloit, chose to take the night off, and spend his 90 minutes co-piloting the mic with announcers Brad Sohner and Todd Busteed. Prime pick-ups from Athlete Octane and Canyon bicycles among others, a roaming child prodigy of a violinist on the backside of the course, multiple solo flyer attempts, uniformed Stemper Nation fans doing calisthenics over the boards, even an old school lemonade stand contributed to the vibe of the day’s final contest.

With 33 laps remaining, a split occurred with a break forming as James Stemper (5Hour Energy-KENDA) and Orlando-Garibay (Incycle-Predator) led the charge. Not quite 10 laps later, a solid break of four had developed: Jordan Cullen (Hagens Berman), Gabriel Varela (Canyon Bicycles), Dahlheim and Stemper. It was now or never, and they didn’t leave any doubt in the field’s mind of their decision. Gone! At the race midpoint, Garibay joined the party, making it an impenetrable break of five that would rule the rest of the day. While the gap grew to 45 seconds, Colton Barrett (Athlete Octane) picked up nearly $500 in field primes as Cole House (Intelligentsia) took a chance and popped out of the field. Six to go, Dahlheim defected from the break, and went up the road, only to be caught with two remaining. One lap to go and all on attack, it was Garibay who claimed a wide-grin victory with second and third steps on the podium occupied by Cullen and Stemper. Holloway stays in the Yellow Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Overall Leader Jersey but Owen Gillott (Hagens Berman) remains within striking distance. Athlete Octane continues to rule the Smart Choice MRI Pro Men Team Omnium. Local rider Nate Labecki (ISCorp-Intelligentsia) stays in the Oarsman Capital Cat 2 Amateur Green Jersey.

Tour of America’s Dairyland presented by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board continues Wednesday with the Series’ one road race at the historic Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake. The 4-day ToAD Junior Series presented by Hincapie Development Cycling Team and WCJ Wire Pilgrim, part of the USA Cycling Road DEVO Series, begins tomorrow as well. ToAD concludes Sunday in Wauwatosa.